- Start a Remote Assistance Session from Windows
Messenger
- Start a Remote Assistance Session with
E-Mail
- Start a Remote Assistance Session by Sending
a File
IMPORTANT:
Read the following to find out what you need to be able
to use this.
Remote Assistance provides a way for you to get the help
you need when you run into problems with your computer.
If you're an experienced user, you can even be the one to
use Remote Assistance to directly help your friends and
family members.
There are three ways to use Remote Assistance, described
in the articles in this section. The fastest is via instant
messaging using Windows Messenger, described in the first
article to the right. You can also initiate Remote Assistance
sessions via e–mail, as described in the second article.
If you use a Web–based e–mail service, such as MSN® Hotmail®,
you can fill out a form and save it as a file to attach
to an e–mail, described in the third article.
To use Remote Assistance, you will need:
| • |
Two computers running Microsoft Windows XP Professional
or Windows XP Home Edition. The computer receiving
assistance and the computer providing assistance
must both run Windows XP.
|
| • |
Both computers must be connected via a network
or the Internet.
|
| • |
Windows Messenger must be installed on both computers.
|
Start a Remote Assistance Session from Windows
Messenger
Use Remote Assistance via Instant Messaging
For this scenario, assume you are seeking help from a
friend. To send a Remote Assistance request via instant
messaging:
|
1.
|
Start Windows Messenger and sign in.
|
|
2.
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In your list of contacts, select a person to
ask for help. You will send an invitation to this
person, asking them to start Remote Assistance and
provide you with help. He or she must be online.
|
|
3.
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Click Tools, click Ask for Remote Assistance,
and chooses the e-mail address for a contact, as
shown in Figure 1 below.
-or-
If you are already exchanging messages in the
Conversation window, click the Invite button,
point to To Start Remote Assistance, and
then click the contact you want to invite.
|
Figure 1. Starting Remote Assistance with Windows Messenger
| • |
If your friend accepts the invitation
and starts to take control of your computer,
you will see a dialog box asking you to
confirm permission. Click Yes if
you want to continue.
Note: Although you relinquish
control of your computer temporarily, you
retain control over the Remote Assistance
session itself. You can end the session
immediately by clicking the Stop Control
button (or pressing the ESC key).
|
|
Your expert coworker receives the invitation as an instant
message and performs the following steps to accept, take
control of your computer, and begin helping:
|
1.
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Click Accept in the instant message.
|
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2.
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A dialog box will ask for the password to initiate
the Remote Assistance session.
|
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3.
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Enter the password and click Yes. When
the remote connection is established, the Remote
Assistance session will open as shown in Figure
2 below.
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Figure 2. The expert's view of Remote Assistance
|
1.
|
Click the Show Chat button in the top
left corner of the screen.
Note: When the Remote Assistance session
opens, you will see two Start menu buttons. The
outside Start button controls your computer, the
inside Start button controls the computer that you
are assisting.
|
|
2.
|
Click the Take Control button. This button
is located just above the taskbar. At this point,
the person who sent the invitation must confirm
permission for you to take control.
|
After you take control, you can work on the remote computer,
using the mouse and keyboard as normal, to help the other
person.
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Start a Remote Assistance Session with
E-Mail
Use Remote Assistance via E-Mail
This section explains initiating Remote Assistance via
e–mail to a corporate Helpdesk, although you can also send
a Remote Assistance request via e–mail to a friend, colleague,
or support professional.
To initiate Remote Assistance via e–mail
|
1.
|
Click Start, and then click Help and
Support to open the Help and Support Services
page.
|
|
2.
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Click Invite a friend to connect to your computer
with Remote Assistance. This is located under
the Ask for assistance heading. The opening
page of the Remote Assistance wizard appears.
|
|
3.
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Click Invite someone to help you, and
then enter the e–mail address of the friend, coworker,
or support professional. Click Continue.
The E–mail an invitation page appears.
|
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4.
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Enter your name, and then type a message summarizing
your problem. Click Continue. Set an expiration
time for the session, and specify a password.
|
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5.
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Click Send Invitation, as shown below.
|
Note: You must relay the password to your friend, coworker,
or support professional in a separate communication such
as a phone call or e–mail.
The wizard confirms that the invitation was sent successfully.
Your friend, coworker, or support professional can then
accept the invitation and initiate Remote Assistance as
in the previous methods.
To accept the e–mail invitation and initiate Remote
Assistance via e–mail
|
1.
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Open the e–mail message and the attached file.
Enter the password in the dialog box. Click Yes.
|
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2.
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When the Remote Assistance screen opens showing
the remote desktop, click Take Control. At
this point, the person who sent the invitation must
confirm permission for you to take control.
|
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Start a Remote Assistance Session by Sending a
File
Use Remote Assistance via Sending a File
If you use Web-based e-mail such as Hotmail or other
similar services, you can use Remote Assistance by saving
your request as a file and attaching it to an e-mail.
To invite a coworker to help you via Remote Assistance
|
1.
|
Click Start, click Help and Support,
and then click Invite a friend to connect to
your computer with Remote Assistance. This is
located under the Ask for assistance heading.
|
|
2.
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Click Invite someone to help you, and
then select Save Invitation as a file.
|
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3.
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Enter your name, and then choose a time on the
Set the Invitation to Expire drop down box,
(the default is 1 hour). Click Continue.
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4.
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Type in a password and then click Save Invitation.
The Save File dialog box appears. Save the file
in the My Documents folder as shown below.
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5.
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Open the My Documents folder, select the invitation
file, and then click E-mail this file.
|
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6.
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Enter the address of your coworker and send the
e-mail. Your coworker will receive an e-mail message
like that shown below.
|
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7.
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After sending the e-mail, you will need to inform
your coworker of the password. You can do this in
a separate e-mail, over the telephone, or any way
that is convenient and secure.
|
Your coworker can follow these steps to accept your invitation
and start helping you.
To accept a Remote Assistance invitation
|
1.
|
Open the e-mail message, and then open the attached
Remote Assistance Invitation file. The Remote Assistance
Invitation box appears as shown below.
|
2. Enter the password and click Yes.
3. The Attempting to Start Remote Assistance
Session box appears. You can begin Remote Assistance
as explained in the previous section,
Using Remote Assistance Via Instant
Messaging.
Sending a file
During a Remote Assistance session, you can send files
from your computer to the remote computer. For example,
you may send a file that is needed to fix a problem on the
remote computer. This requires action by both parties, the
helper who sends the file and the requestor who must accept
it and save it.
To send a file when helping someone via Remote Assistance
|
1.
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In the chat dialog box, click Send a File,
and then type the file path or click Browse
as shown below.
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2.
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Select the file and click Send File.
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To receive and save a file from someone who is helping
you via Remote Assistance
|
1.
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When you receive notification that someone is
sending you a file, click Save as, as shown
below.
|
Choose a folder in which to save the file. Note that
you can also decline to receive the file by clicking
Cancel.
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